Prince Harry on Missing Mom Princess Diana after Son Archie's Birth

Prince Harry admits missing his mother, the late Princess Diana, just a few days after becoming a father for the first time. He also reveals his thoughts on fatherhood and sharing his son to the world.

Along with all the fanfare surrounding the birth of his first child, Prince Harry admits missing his mom.

CONNECTING WITH A FELLOW SOLDIER

Just three days after his son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was born, the new dad jetted off to the Netherlands to launch the countdown to the Invictus Games in The Hague which will happen next year.

During his visit, he went on a bike ride with veteran soldier and future Invictus Games competitor Dennis van der Stroon and they chatted about his being a new father and feeling his late mother Princess Diana’s absence.

"He was just amazed by the miracles in the world, and how his child has made a lot of people happy."

ON BEING A FATHER

In what he described as an “amazing and emotional” conversation, Dennis revealed the Duke of Sussex admitted his views shifted after his son was born.

“Harry talked about how having a small child was his new focus and new goal,” he said and added,

“Above all he said he was just amazed by the miracles in the world, and how his child has made a lot of people happy. He also told me he's really happy that his son is so far very quiet. But he also told me not to make too many plans and that there’s no way you can plan for when the baby arrives.”

ON MISSING HIS MOTHER

Dennis was amazed at how he connected with the new royal dad, also because they both experienced losing their mothers. In 2014, Dennis lost his mother, Marion to chronic lung disease. A year later, he was diagnosed with PTSD which later progressed to a series of mental health issues. Meanwhile, Harry famously lost his mother in a tragic car crash back in 1997 when he was only 12.

When Harry learned Dennis could relate to what he went through, he admitted missing the late Princess. “He said missing a mother is like missing some kind of security, how you need that as a son and it falls away when you lose your mother,” Dennis recounts.

“He said he meets a lot of people in his work who have lost a mother, father, sister, brother or relatives and when he hears their story, as he heard my story, he said he doesn’t feel so alone.”

Princess Diana carries newborn Prince Harry as she and Prince Charles leave the hospital on September 16, 1984, a day after Harry was born. | Source: Getty

HIS SON'S ARRIVAL

Though Diana is not physically present to see her son become a father, Harry made sure she was a part of it. When the announcement of Archie’s arrival was shared on the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ official social media account, Diana’s siblings were mentioned among the people in the family who “have been informed and are delighted with the news.”

Many also believe his son’s unconventional first name is another subtle way of honoring the late princess. Archie is short for Archibald, the name of Diana’s ancestor, Archibald Campbell, the 9th Earl of Argyll.